Electromagnetic conversion relay



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i i 11' N l L 1 52 94- s5 18 I l 95 //VVA 7'fl4 Gi/emw 4 10541 5/? United States Patent 3,518,589 ELECTROMAGNETIC CONVERSION RELAY Gerard N. Koehler, 11 Rue des Girondins, Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine, France Filed Apr. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 720,839 Claims priority, applicgtgofigfrance, Apr. 20, 1967,

Int. Cl. H01h 45/02, 50/64 US. Cl. 335-132 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electromagnetic conversion relay of the multiplecontact draw-out type comprising a single yoke which is formed by a sectional member having at least two flanges and on which are mounted on the one hand a core-coilmoving armature assembly and on the other hand stationary and movable contacts actuated by the armature. The contacts are grouped together so as to form at least one contact unit comprising an insulating base traversed by a set of terminals of the plug-in or screw-connector type, at least some of said terminals being connected to contacts carried by the base and housed therein with the contactstrips. The contact unit is mounted on the outer face of one of the flanges of said sectional member. The assembly consisting of core, coil and moving armature which is associated with at least one contact unit is mounted on the inner face of another flange of said sectional member.

This invention relates to an electromagnetic relay, especially of the multiple-contact and draw-out type, said relay being designed to permit a large number of different structures according to requirements While entailing the use of only a small number of basic components.

It is known that one of the main advantages of electromagnetic relays over semiconductor systems is that they can comprise one or a number of electrically independent contacts which are also independent of the operating coil circuit. In order to turn this advantage to the most profitable account, it is important to be able to construct a relay which comprises a variable number of contacts in order to avoid having to put the relays in parallel in some cases and to have vacant contacts in other cases. As is also known, it can prove useful in some instances to have a group of several relays which are assembled together and which may even be interconnected in order to perform special functions.

This condition can evidently be satisfied by increasing the number of different types of relays but the disadvantages of this expedient are at once apparent, particularly in regard to the resulting increases both in capital outlay and storage of materials.

On the other hand, in the case of draw-out relays of different types, a difliculty arises in the construction of connectors of conventional design. In point of fact, there are as many different types of connectors as there are types of relays or types of groups of relays, which constitutes a further disadvantage.

Consideration has already been given to the construction of an assembly which comprises a plurality of electromagnetic relays having a common L-shaped yoke on which are fixed on the one hand the cores and induction coils and on the other hand an independent subassembly formed by stacks of contact-strips of the different relays. However, this system does not offer a wide range of possibilities of conversion. In particular, it does not make it possible to produce a modular structure. Moreover, in order to carry out adjustments in this form of construc* tion, it is necessary to gain access to the contact-strips and this can be achieved in practice only with difiiculty.

Patented June 30, 1970 Finally, the relays mentioned above do not comprise any partitioning between the contacts, which is necessary when a fairly high current-breaking capacity is required.

The convertible relay according to the invention is intended to overcome the above-noted disadvantages and limitations while providing additional specific advantages.

In accordance with the invention, the electromagnetic conversion relay of the multiple-contact draw-out type intended primarily for modular circuits and comprising a single yoke which is formed by a sectional member having at least two flanges and on which are mounted on the one hand a core-coil-moving armature assembly and on the other hand stationary and movable contacts actuated by the armature, is characterized in that the contacts are grouped together so as to form at least one contact unit comprising one unitary group of contacts, said contact unit being adapted to comprise an insulating base traversed by a set of output terminal lugs of which at least a part is connected to contacts carried by the base and housed therein with the contact-strips, that said contact unit is mounted on the outer face of one of the flanges of said sectional member, and that the core-coil-armature assembly which is associated with at least one contact unit is mounted on the inner face of another flange of said sectional member.

The contact unit thus constitutes the modular element of the convertible relay according to the invention, a single relay being capable of comprising a plurality of similar juxtaposed units and one or a number of corecoil-armature assemblies.

The output terminal lugs which project from the insulating base are preferably parallel to each other and of the plug-in type. If the base is provided with more than one row of terminal lugs, the pitch or spacing between two rows of lugs of one base is preferably the same as the spacing between two adjacent rows forming part of two adjacent units. As a consequence, the relay is provided with output terminal lugs having a constant pitch in the direction which is contemplated for the extension of the relay (hereinafter referred-to as the longitudinal direction). Moreover, the pitch in the direction of the width in one unit is preferably equal to the pitch in the longitudinal direction of the relay. The relay is thus provided with plug-in terminal lugs disposed on a uniform lattice which is extensible in the longitudinal direction.

By reason of the fact that, in the convertible relay, a constant pitch is obtained in the longitudinal direction, there can be employed in conjunction with said relay a connector which is formed by stacking side by side in the longitudinal direction a number of connector elements which is proportional to the number of contact units with which the relay is provided, each connector element being adapted to receive the terminal lugs of a fraction of a contact unit or of a multiple of said contact units but preferably the whole number of terminal lugs of one contact unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the insulating base of the contact unit comprises a central partition which serves to provide insulation between two lateral recesses each containing two stationary contacts (a normally-open contact and a normally-closed contact) and a movable switching contact carried by a flexible strip, said contact-strip being substantially parallel to that face of the insulating base which carries the output terminal lugs. Two supplemental terminal lugs are preferably added to each base for the purpose of providing an external connection from the coil Wires. Each base is accordingly provided with eight output terminal lugs.

In this embodiment, the most simple relay has two switching contacts but it is possible to construct relays in which four, six, eight or even a greater number of switching contacts may be provided.

Depending on the number of contacts which are actuated by a single core-coil-armature assembly, the dimensions of said assembly Will vary while remaining proportional to the number of contacts in order to ensure that the mechanical work which is necessary per contact is constant.

Further properties of the invention will become apapparent from the description given hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example without impiled limitation, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective showing a relay in accordance with the invention in the simplest embodiment thereof;

FIG. 2 is a view of the relay in side elevation, in which the coil and yoke are shown in axial cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective showing the bare insulating-plate of one contact unit;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation showing the relay of FIG. 1 which is fitted with a cover;

FIG. 5 is the corresponding end view;

FIG. 6 is the top view;

FIG. 7 is the bottom view of the contact-carrier base, two other associated contact units having additionally been shown diagrammatically;

FIG. 8 is a perspective diagram of a unitary moving armature;

FIG. 9 is a view in elevation in the longitudinal direction of a multiple relay comprising four contact units;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view in perspective showing another embodiment of a multiple relay comprising three contact units;

FIG. 11 is a view in elevation in the longitudinal direction showing a moving armature in the case of a relay which comprises four contact units;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a relay having two contact units of the bistable type, these units being assumed to have been removed;

FIG. 13 is a view in partial longitudinal cross-section showing a contact unit which is not of the plug-in type.

Reference will first be had to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings in which are shown the component elements of electromagnetic relay according to the invention in the simplest form of construction thereof. This relay essentially comprises a yoke 1 having the shape of an angle-iron member, the L-shaped profile of which has constant dimensions whereas the length thereof is variable and depends on the number of contacts required for the relay. The yoke 1 carries on the one hand at least one contact unit 2 of modular type. The unit 2 is mounted on the outer face of one of the arms of the yoke 1.

There is additionally mounted on the inner face of the other arm 4 of the yoke 1 the actuating assembly of the relay comprising at least one magnetic core 5 which is secured endwise to the arm 4, a coil 6 and a moving armature 7 of magnetic metal. The number of actuating assemblies and the dimensions of each assembly vary as a function of the number of contact units as will be explained hereinafter.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the contact unit 2 is constituted by an insulating base 11 which is fabricated, for example, from molded material and is inscribed substantially in a parallelipipedal volume. The base 11 has a central partition 12 which forms a separtion between two lateral recesses 13 in which are mounted a stationary (normally-closed) contact 14 and a stationary (normallyopen) contact 15 and a movable contact 16 which performs a switching function between said stationary contacts and which is carried by a flexible contact-strip 17. The stationary contacts 14 and 15 and the contact strip 17 are carried by suitably cambered terminal lugs 18 which are inserted in slots 19 of the lateral portion of the base 11. Anchoring of the output terminal lugs 18 is carried out by means of teeth 21 which are crimped and folded-back into suitable recesses formed in the free face 22 of the base 11. The contact-strips 17 are substantially parallel to the face of the base 11 which carries the terminal lugs 18. Two other output terminal lugs 18 are extended by contact-arms 23 placed along columns 24 which stand upright from the base 11 but are rigidly fixed to this latter. The contact-arms 23 which project beyond the columns 24 serve to supply current to the coil 6. To this end, the free ends of the contactarms 23 are connected to the terminals of the coil 6, for example by means of flexible lead-wires 25.

Thus, the contact unit which is contemplated by the invention generally consists of four stationary contacts and two movable contacts to which are assigned six output terminal lugs 18, the complete assembly being such as to constitute two switching contacts.

As is discernible from FIG. 7, the terminal lugs 18 are disposed in spaced relation in two parallel rows. Moreover, the arrangement is such that the pitch in the direction of the length L of the unit 2 is equal to the pitch in the direction of the width L,,. The base 11 is thus fitted with output terminals lugs which are disposed on a uniform lattice. A relay in accordance with this construction is of the plug-in and draw-out type.

Moreover, the arrangement which is contemplated in regard to the terminal pitch is highly advantageous in the case in which the relay comprises a number of juxtaposed units, as will become apparent below.

In the unit 2, the group which is constituted by the two stationary contacts 14, 15 and the movable contact 16 is separated from the adjacent group by the insulating partition 12, thereby preventing any possibility of a shortcircuit. In addition, and in accordance with a particularly advantageous arrangement shown in FIG. 3, a blind-end recess 26 is formed in the thickness of the partition 12 at the level of the contacts 14, 15, 16. There can be fitted within the recess 26 a permanent magnet which is preferably fabricated from a nickel-aluminum-cobalt alloy with oriented crystals. Said magnet produces at the level of the contacts a field at right angles to the electric are which may be produced in the event of interruption of the current supply. By means of this arrangement, the

direct current breaking capacity of the relays can be increased to a very appreciable extent.

The face 28 of the base 11 which is remote from the free face 22 is provided with two studs 29 which are adapted to engage in holes 31 of the arm 3 of the yoke 1. The studs 29 and the holes 31 permit the centering of said yoke which is secured in position by means of a screw 32, said screw being fixed in an internally threaded bore 33 of the arm 3 and adapted to pass through the thickness of the insulating partition 12. Thus, said screw 32 provides a connection between the contact unit 2 and the yoke 1.

In the simplest embodiment which is shown in FIG. 1, the other arm 4 of the yoke 1 is adapted to carry an actuating assembly which is intended solely to operate the two movable contacts 16 which form part of the contact unit 2 under consideration. In this case, the length L of the yoke 1 as well as the length of the armature 7 correspond to the width L of the unit 2.

The core 5 in the embodiment considered is secured by press-fitting at 35 in the arm 4. The coil 6 is carried by an insulating former 36 which is fitted over the core 5. Said coil former 36 is fixed in position by means of flexible lips 40 formed at the extremity of the coil former and placed at the outlet of the internal bore of said coil, said lips 40 being adapted to engage in grooves 50 which are formed near the extremity of the core 5. The coil former 36 is thus secured by elastic deformation of said terminal lips which are permitted to snap back into the grooves of the core.

The moving armature 7 comprises a plate 38 (as shown in FIG. 8) formed of magnetic metal. The plate 38 is provided with a projecting portion 39 and with three bosses 41 formed by die-stamping and located at different levels so that, when the armature 7 is fixed in position, said bosses fit into position on each side of the free end of the arm 3. The assembly with play which is thus provided constitutes a pseudo-articulation for the armature 7. An elbowed forked member 42 is mounted on that face of the plate 38 which is remote from the pole face of the core and is attached to the plate 38 by means of a screw 43 passed through a button-hole slot 44 formed in the forked member aforesaid, thereby permitting the positional adjustment of said forked member relative to the plate 38 by means of a sliding movement. The two arms 45 of the forked member 42 which are positioned in the recesses 13 of the base 11 are provided with insulating contacts 46 which are intended to bear on the flexible contact-strips 17 at the moment of actuation of the armature 7. Steps are taken to ensure that, in the rest position, the arms 45 do not bear on the contact-strips 17 in order that these latter should not be prevented in any way from moving back to the normally-closed position. The arms 45 of the armature 7 which is thus constituted are rigid. Moreover, the camber of the contact-strips 17 causes the contacts 16 to be applied against the back contacts 14 in the normally-closed position.

When the relay is not energized, the plate 38 of the moving armature is maintained at a distance away from the pole face and is applied against abutment shoulders 30 formed at the extremities of the insulating columns 24, as shown in FIG. 2. The fixing screw 43 is accessible by virtue of the gap provided between the two columns 24. As long as said screw 43 is not tightened hard up, the forked member 42 can be displaced toward the contact-strips 17 in a progressive manner. When the coil 6 is energized and when it is detected electrically that the normally-open contacts are closed, it is only necessary to displace the forked member 42 to an additional extent which corresponds to the desired accompanying movement of the contacts. The screw 43 is then tightened hard up and the adjustment operation is accordingly completed. The restoring force is produced by the elasticity of the contact-strips 17. The armature 7 is provided with a suflicient range of travel to ensure that it does not interfere with the making of the normally-closed contacts.

The plug-in relay which is thus constituted can be covered with an insulating and translucent cover 47 (as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6) in which is formed a recess 48 in order to permit the projection of the arm 4 of the yoke 1. A wedge-shaped lug 49 can be formed on said arm by die-stamping so as to retain the cover 47 once this latter has been fitted in position. The top face 51 of the cover 47 is pierced by holes 52 located at intervals as shown in FIG. 6 for the insertion of a probe for checking the relay or measurements. It will be understood that the holes 52 can be replaced by started perforations which are closed off by a thin film. In an alternative embodiment, the cover is divided so as to surround only the contact unit.

The projection of the arm 4 from the cover 47 permits the attachment of the relay, for example by means of a screw 53, to a support which is not illustrated in the figure. Said arm also facilitates handling and positioning for the purpose of plugging the relay into its supporting connector or separating it from this latter. Finally, the arrangement of the arm 4 in free air facilitates cooling of the yoke 1 and consequently of the relay as a whole.

According to another property of the invention, the height of the contact-arms 23, the arm 4 and the height of the cover 47 have been so arranged as to permit the insertion of one or a number of electrical components inside said cover when the relay is intended to perform a special function. This arrangement is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, from which it is apparent that the terminal flange 36a of the coil former 36 is provided with slightly flexible hooks 55 which are adapted to cooperate with another boss 56 formed in the arm 4 by die-stamping for the purpose of retaining a small plate 57 on which the component or components are supported. For example,

said support plate can consist of a printed circuit or be adapted to support a number of elements such as resistors, capacitors or diodes. The support plate can be placed in position by being force-fitted between the hooks 55.

The contact unit 2 which has just been described can be associated either with a unitary relay of the type shown in FIG. 1 or with a composite relay which is capable of performing functions of a more complex nature.

Depending on requirements, said composite relay can be constituted by the association of unitary relays of the type contemplated in FIG. 1, said relays being each provided with a separate actuating assembly and the sole connection between the unitary relays being constituted by a common yoke 1 of suitable length and also by a common cover if necessary. In other cases, the relay comprises an actuating assembly (core 5, coil 6, armature 7) which is common to a number of contact units.

In the first version which is contemplated for the composite relay, it is only necessary to provide the yoke 1 with a dimension L in the longitudinal direction which is equal to a multiple of the unitary width L hereinbefore defined. A yoke of this type is shown diagrammatically in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 1. Thus, said yoke comprises a series of cores 5a 5 which have the same pitch as that which is provided in the case of the contact units 2. Similarly, the arm 3 is provided with an identically spaced series of holes 31:; 311' and internally threaded bores 33a 331'.

A yoke 1 which is suitable for use in the case of four contact units 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d is shown in FIG. 9. Notches 61 which are formed in the yoke arm 4 individualize the sections 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d of said arm which are assigned to each relay. In addition, said notches which are initially cut in the angle-iron facilitate cutting of the yoke 1 to the requisite length.

In this version, each core 5a 5d is adapted to receive a coil 6 which is not shown in the figure. The relay additionally comprises four separate armatures 7 which are identical with the armature of FIG. 1 and which can be actuated separately by means of the coils 6.

The spacing of the output terminal lugs 18 in the longitudinal direction L and the relative spacing of two adjacent contact units 2 are such that the pitch of the output terminal contact lugs 18 in the direction L is constant for the complete assembly of contact units 2. This arrangement is shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. In FIG. 7, there are shown diagrammatically three adjacent contact units 2a, 2b, 20 with the position of the corresponding terminal lugs 18. It is clear that the lattice which is thus formed is wholly uniform irrespective of the number of contacts employed.

The advantage of the composite relay according to this arrangement is that it permits handling as a single unit by virtue of the single yoke 1. The complete relay can be mounted or demounted in a single block by plugging into or separating from a connector.

In the second version which is contemplated for the composite relay, an actuating assembly is common to a plurality of contact units. This form of construction is shown in particular in FIG. 10.

The relay comprises a yoke 1 having a length L which corresponds to three juxtaposed contact units 2a, 2b, 2c. The actuating assembly comprises on the one hand a coil 6ab mounted on a core Sab, the width of which corresponds to two contact units 2a, 2b. The second coil 60 is identical with that of FIG. 1 and corresponds to a contact unit 2c.

The cores Sab and 5c are recessed in the example under consideration so as to permit the insertion of a Frager coil for alternating-current operation.

There corresponds to the double coil Sab a double armature 7ab constituted by a single plate 38 in which is formed a double notch '62, 63. The plate 38 carries two forked members 42a, 42b which are thus displaced in synchronism when the coil 6a-b is energized.

It is readily understood that, in this case, it would also be possible to provide two separate cores a, 5b and two separate coils 6a, 6b provided that said coils are supplied in parallel. However, the preceding version may be preferred by reason of the presence of a single coil of larger size which is more economical since it calls for the use of wire of larger cross-sectional area and which is therefore lower in cost.

In the case of a relay comprising four or more switching contacts and assuming that only two terminal lugs are required for the coil, there are accordingly made available additional terminal lugs which can be used for special purposes. For example, it is possible to fit one or a number of diodes inside the relay in order to facilitate the performance of logic functions.

The plate 38 can carry any number of forked members 42 in the longitudinal direction thereof. There is accordingly shown in FIG. 11 a quadruple armature 7 comprising a single plate 38 and carrying four forked members 42a 42d.

In the case of a composite relay which comprises a plurality of contact units 2a, 2b, 2c such as the unit shown in FIG. 9, for the purpose of insulating the contacts of each unit from those of adjacent units, provision is made for the insertion therebetween of flat insulating partitions which can simply be placed in position between two adjacent bases and bear on the base flanges (as is the case with the partition 64a). Alternatively, said partitions can be provided with grooves in order to permit of their engagement over said base flanges (as is the case with partition 64b).

One particular application of the composite relay according to the invention is the easy construction of bistable relays. One such relay is shown in FIG. 12, the contact units 12 having been removed.

The yoke 1 carries two coils, 6a, 6b of the independent control type. There is associated with each coil an armature 7a, 7b which has the same structure as the armature 7 of FIG. 1, the two armatures 7a, 7b being independent of each other.

The memory or storage device is of the mechanical type and comprises a forked bracket 65 which is fixed on the arm 4 of the yoke 1, for example by means of a screw 66.

There is pivotally mounted on the bracket a stirrupmember 67 which is urged towards the coils 6a, 6b by elastic and flexible rods 68 which are fastened thereto. The stirrup-member 67 is thus applied against two shaped cams 69a, 69b each provided with a groove so that they can be mounted astride the top edge of the plates 7a, 7b. The cam 69a which serves to detach the stirrupmember 67 has a rounded active face. The cam 69b is provided with a tooth 71 which is capable of engaging the stirrup-member 67 (in the position shown in FIG. 1'2).

The supply of current to the coils 6a, 6b being carried out via two separate channels, the operation is as follows: if the coil 6b is energized, the attraction of the armature 7b which is brought into contact with the pole face causes the stirrup-member 67 to be lifted by the tooth 71. The flexible rods 68 then cause the stirrupmember 67 to pass beyond the tooth 71, thereby preventing the armature 7b from returning downwards. The contacts of the unit 2b thus remain in the operating position.

The subsequent excitation of the coil 6a which results in the attraction of the armature 7a accordingly causes the upward displacement of the stirrup-member 67 by means of the cam 69a. The tooth 71 of the armature 7b is then released and said armature returns downwards.

Provision could also be made on each armature 7a,

7b for a cam 69b for the purpose of ensuring the engagement of the stirrup-member 67 by means of either one or the other of the two coils 6a, 6b.

In accordance with another arrangement, the rela is fitted with a push-button 72 which is placed directly above the free arm of the stirrup-member 67, thereby making it possible by manual action to lift said stirrupmember and cause the armatures to return downwards.

In accordance with a further arrangement, the profile of one of the cams is such that it initiates the unlocking of the adjacent cam or perform this function followed by a self-locking action.

In order to prevent the effect of residual magnetism of the magnetic circuit after the supply of current to the excitation circuit has been cut off, provision is made for mounting a sheet 81 of thin plastic material between the extremity of the core 5 and the plate 38 of the armature 7 (FIG 2).

It is apparent that the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinabove described and that alternative forms of execution may be contemplated Within the scope of the appended claims. It accordingly follows that the arms 45 of the armature 7 could be integral with the plate 38 and be cambered at the time of adjustment. However, in this case, adjustment is no longer possible when a number of contact units are assembled side by side.

Should the volume of components to be added to one contact unit prove too large to permit of their being mounted above the coil or coils of the relay or relays of one unit, it would be possible to add to the unit a vacant module composed of the extension of the yoke and of one contact unit, even without any terminal lugs, the corresponding core and coil being accordingly dispensed with.

In a variant of the invention, provision is made for a U-section yoke 1 instead of an L-section yoke, one of the arms 3 of the U being intended to perform the same function whilst the other arm is cut out by diestamping so as to provide a series of uniformly spaced teeth constituting the magnetic cores of the coils.

Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the case in which the contact unit 2 is fitted with terminal lugs of the plug-in type. Thus, in the alternative form of FIG. 13, the base 11 of the contact unit 2 carries an added insulating sole-piece 83 of recessed construction which is attached by means of the screw 32 and dowelpins 84. The sole-piece 83 is provided with compartments 85 in which are mounted brackets 86 serving as supports for screws 87 which traverse the extremities of the terminal lugs 18 so as to form terminals for the connection of lead wires which are not shown in the figure. It is evident that the compartments 85 are spaced in such a manner as to ensure that a suflicient isolation distance is maintained between adjacent contacts.

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic conversion relay of the multiplecontact draw-out type intended primarily for modular circuits and comprising a yoke which is formed by a member having at least two flanges, at least one core-coil moving armature assembly mounted on the inner face of a flange of said member, at least one modular contact unit mounted on the outer face of another of said flanges and including an insulating base and a unitary group of stationary and movable contacts actuated by the armature, said base comprising a central partition providing insulation between two lateral recesses on opposite sides of said base, said recesses each containing two stationary contacts and a movable switching contact which is carried by a flexible strip, the moving armature carrying at least one adjustable forked member having legs that straddle said central partition and are disposed in said recesses and that carry insulating contacts that bear, upon actuation of the armature, on said flexible strips, a set of output terminal lugs extending through said base and projecting from one face thereof with a constant pitch, at least a part of said terminal lugs being connected to said stationary and switching contacts.

2. A relay as claimed in claim 1, there being a plurality of core-coil-moving armature assemblies mounted on said inner face, a plurality of said modular contact units mounted on said outer face, and a plurality of said adjustable forked members each straddling a said central partition. 1

3. A relay as claimed in claim 1, there being a single said core-coil-moving armature assembly mounted on said inner face, a plurality of said modular contact units mounted on said outer face, and a plurality of said forked members on said armature of said assembly and each straddling a said central partition.

4. A relay as claimed in claim 1, constituting a bistable relay comprising t-wo modular contact units and two core-coil-moving armature assemblies, each armature of each said assembly having a cam for actuating a pivoted locking stirrup member 'which is common to the two assemblies, the cams being so shaped that, upon actuation of one of said armatures, the other armature is released. 7

5. A relay as claimed in claim 1, said insulating base having a recess therein and a permanent magnet in the last-named recess for producing an arc-suppressing magnetic field in the vicinity of the contacts which are carried by the base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES German printed application 1,014,668, August 1957, Stenzel.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner D. M. MORGAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 335135 

